A. ZIEGLER ON THE CULTURE OF THE SILK-WOllM. 379 



The putting up the Spinning -hushes. 



After the tliird s]icclding process is passed, it is "well to com- 

 mence puttmg up the bushes needed by the worms to spin their 

 cocoons on. These may either be placed on separate stages or 

 scaffolds of boards, or on the crates. In both cases they consist 

 of twigs of trees that have neither thorns, nor prickles, nor resin ; 

 if possible, of birch. The twigs must be free of leaves, perfectly 

 dry, and without any smell. 



In constructing the arrangement, the upper crate has always to 

 serve as cover for the bushes beneath it. Thin laths, not quite as 

 long as the breadth of the crates, are then taken, having small 

 holes bored through them, one inch apart, to let the bushes in. 

 These must be about half an inch longer than the distance from 

 one crate to another. Bushes tied from small twigs can also be 

 used without these laths; care has then only to be taken that 

 they are not placed too close together, as in that case the free air 

 has not the necessary access. The worms will also sometimes 

 use paper bags and other hollow things for spinning places. To 

 prevent the falling off of the caterpillars, all twigs extending over 

 the scaffold must be cut off. 



The Worm ivhen ready to spin itself in. 



This may be known by the following signs : 



1. It refuses food — even avoids it; creeps about in troubled 

 haste, with head erect, especially on the frame of the crate, as if 

 hunting for a suitable place. 



2. A thin thread of silk protrudes from its mouth. 

 8. The skin of its neck gets wrinkles. 



4. Held against the light, the body ajDpears transparent, and 

 feels soft. 



5. The worm, when taken from its place, tries to wind itself 

 around the finger. 



When remarking these signs, it is time to bring them to their 

 spinning places, as they would otherwise lose too much silk, get 

 lazy, and either spin very little or not at all. The right moment 

 must be found out. If left too long on the twigs, the worm may 

 fix its cocoon either on the sides or corners of the crate, and there- 

 by molest the others. If taken off too soon, it is prevented from 

 feeding just at a time when it needs the most nourishment. Im- 

 mediately before the spinning in, the worms discharge all the ex- 

 crements that yet remain in their body. If too many are put on 

 the bushes at a time, they will hinder one another in spinning, or 

 two of them may spin their cocoons in one ; these not being very 

 valuable. Smooth wooden plates are used for transferring them, 

 and they are distributed, beginning from the uppermost row along 

 the sides of the bushes. 



If the first breed has already spun their cocoons, fresh worms 



